Driving mechanism for divided axles.



C. H. JOHNSON.

muvme mzcmmsm FOR DIVIDED AXLES.

LPPLIOATIOH I'll-B11 mm: 14, 1909.

Patented Mar. 15, 1910.

UEITED STATES Pi T 13T QFFEJE.

CHARLES H. JOHNSON, F CANTOLI. OHIO. AESIGZIGR IO T"-'- IIZDGI'LY A311) JOHNSON TOOL COMPANY. '33: SPRINGFIELD. ILLINOIS. CORPORAI -3 GE ILLINOIS.

DRIVING MECHANISM 50F. DI'SIDED AXLES.

UIIX Si IX.

The invention relates to a clutch for driv-,

ing divided shafts, like the axle of automobiles and other motor vehicles. in which it is desirable to release either one or both sections of the axle from the clutch to per-- init the same to rotate free of the driving mechanism, as when the vehicle is making a turn or is coasting down hill. In the first case, it is desirable to automatically engage the free section of the axle as soon a:- a straight course is egained, and in the latter case when both sections of theaxle have run ahead of the driving mechanism. it is de irable to reingage them by the clutch U) utilize the resistance of the motor mechanism. to retard the rotation of the wheel .\nd again, when both axle sections have been clutched against he motor, it is de-irahle to automatically release and reengagc them by the clutch when necessary to drive them again by the motor.' These general objects and purposes of the invention are attained bjvjournaling the inner end portions of the axle sections in 'a driving drain. and by providing friction disks on the adjacent ends of the sections and forming cam-faced recesses in the peripheral wall of the drum,

with spring-controlled wedging rolls in the recess between the disks and the cam faces, and anintervening spacing blot-l; between the rolls; whereh either one or both of the disks are clamped to or, released from the drum bv the relative rotation in either direction of the same o: of either one or both of the disks. g

A preferred embodiment of the invention as applied to the divided axles of an automobile, is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the drum and clutch mechanism. showing the axle in section and one end of the drum removed;

Fig. 2, is a longitudinal section of the drum and clutch mechanism on line 2-2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a detached side elevation of the spacing block; and Fig. 4, a fragtnentary plan view of the spacing block with the wedging rolls. and ad acent parts.

similar parts adjacent ends of the axle sections inside the i drum. the peripheries of which di-lts are adapted to neatly fit the inner face of the peripheral wall of the drum. The recess 5* is provided in the peripheral wall of the drum, the end sections and 10" of which recess are of greater depth than at the middle, thus presenting the annular catn faces 11 and 11 opposite the peripheries of the disks. The spacing block 12 is located in the recess and is shaped on its inner faces 13 and 1 7-? to neatly fit the peripheries of the corresponding disks, while its outer face 14 is located at an interval from the cam factof the rece The spacing block is held it. proper position agaipst the peripheries of the disks by means of the circular plate 15 which is preferably for ned integral with the block and intervene between the adjacent sides of, the friction disks, the periphery of which plate is adapted to neatly lit the inner face of the peripheral wall of the drum, thus holding it always concentric with the disks. The friction disks are preferably mounted on the angular portions 16 and 1G formed'on the ends of the shafts, which permits a slight longitudinal movement thereon; and the disksand the intervening plate are preferably pressed together and also against one end of the drum by the spiral compression spring 17 located around the axle in the other end of the drum. whereby the spacing block is normally held against rotation with respect to the disks.

-The wedging rolls 18, 18 and 19, 19 are located in the recess 9, one roll being located on the periphery of each dish in each end of the recess. The wedging rolls are pr'operl} spaced apart by the block 12, and are preferably held against the rounded sockets formed in the ends of the block, by action of the controlling compression springs 21,

to abut the sides of the rolls. and the remote I engaged 1n the end of the ends of the springs are 'neferably in the sockets 23 termed recess 9. The diameter of the rolls is slightly less than the depth of the end portions of the drum recess, but considerably greater than the depth of the middle portion thereof, so that by rotating the drum to bring the cam face of the recess in contact with the roll, the same is wedged tightly and gripped between this face and the periphery of the corresponding disk, thus securely clamping the disk in the drum. The rolls are held against endwise movement toward each other by the short circumferential extensions 26 and 2% which are provided on the periphery of the circular plate at each end of the spacing block.

In -use, when the driving drum is operated to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. '1, which for convenience is herein referred to as the forward direction, it is evident that the forward rolls 1S and 18 will soon be wedged between the cam face 11 of the drum and the peripheries of the respective friction disks, which wedge action serves to positively clamp the drum and the disks together and to rotate the disks with the drum.

tends to rotate with the disks by reason of the friction produced by spring 17, and that the rolls held against the ends bv the action of the controlling springs are normally of the spacing block bllt that when the roll is impinged by the 1 cam face of the drum, it will be slightly rotated away from the adjacent end of the spac ng block between the cam face and the periphery of 1 the frictiondisk prevents a further rotation of the former with reference to the other.

Whenever one axle section tends to rotate faster than the driving mechanism, as the section 3 of the outer wheel \vaen rounding a curve, it is evident that the faster rotation of the correspomling friction disk '5' with reference to the driving drum will carry the forward wedding roll 1 forward free from contact with the can: face of the drum. thus releasing the gripping effect of the same and permitting the tllrli and its axle rtt'll ll to rotate t'rw: of the driving mechanism. the :lllEiL time. the

which is held agaimt forward rotation by is now firmly wedged beand the d1-k T by the In this operation, it will be understood that the spacing block 2 the pressure of the 1 until the wedging of the roll 1 .t: i rearward roll 1' of the overt-mining disk will be held out of engagement with its cam face by the spacing blo -k,

; velocity as its fellow, when it will be rel clamped by the driving mechanism and will resume its portion of the load. .rnd when, both axle sections tend to rotate faster than the driving drum, as when coasting down hill, the wedged rolls are carried forward free from contact with the cam face of the drum, thus releasing'the disks from the grip of the drum, and both disks are thus permitted to rotate free of the driving mechanism. This freedom continues as long as none of the rolls are gripped between the drum and the disks, but in event the friction 3 disks rotate far enough in advance of the driving drum to cause the rear rolls 19 and '5 19 to become wedged against the cam face 11 of the drum, it is evident that both disks 5 will again be positivelv clamped in the drum, thus positively matching the same against the motor mechanism, the resistance of which serves to brake a further excessive rotation of the axles. Furthermore, when i driving power is again required, the rota- 1 tion of the axles and friction disks will lag behind the driving drum, and the rear gripping rolls will be released from contact with the cam face of the drum, thus permitting the drum to again rotate faster than the friction disks and to again engage and wedge the forward rolls against the periphery of the disks, thus positively clutching I and driving them forward as befor-. And i finally, when it is esired to drive the vehicle backward. it is only necessary to reverse the rotation of the driving drum, 1 whereupon both of the rear rolls 19 and 19 will be wedged between the peripheries of the disks and the cam face 11 of the drum, which will positively clamp the disks to be ;driven backward by the drum, and will adapt either one or both of the disks to be released and reengaged in the same manner t 2l\ when the vehicle its-being driven forward. It will be understand that for the purpose of avoiding friction, rolls are preferably used as the wedges between the peripheries of the disks and the cam face of the drum, but it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to the use of such cylindric wedges.

1 claim: 1. A drivinL mechanism includinga divided axle, disk on the axle sections, a driving drum fitting around the disks and having a rece with cam faces therein presented toward the disks, spring-controlled rolls in the recess on each disk adapted to be wedged between the cam faces drum and the disks by the relative rotation of the drum and disks. and a spacing block between the rolls having a centering plate frictionally held between the disks.

2. A driving niechanisn'l including a divided axle. disks on the axle sections, a A driving drum fitting around the disks and of the he wedged l etwcen the cam tar-rs of t' frictionallv held between the dis cam faces of the 5 drum and the di-ks by the relative rotation of the hunt and disks, and a spacing block lit-1 an n the wedg s having a centering plate frictmnallv held hetwct-n the disks.

3. A driving mechanism including a di- 10 vided axle, disk on the axle sections. driving means fitting around the disks and having a recess with a vain face therein pr sented toward the disks. spring-controlieil rolls in the rece s on each did; alapt d t 1.

driving means and the disks by the relativ rotation of the driving means and disks in either direction, and a spacing block lutween the rolls having a ccntc ing plate 4. A driving mechanism including a divided axle. disks on the axle sections. driving means fitting around the disks and having a recess with cam faces therein presented toward the disks,- spring-controlled wedges in the recess on each disk adapted in be gripped between the cam faces of ,th-z driving means and the disks by the relative rotation of the driving means and disks. and

a spacing block between the wedges having a centering plate frictionally held bet'ween the disks.

5. A driving mechanism including a divided axle, annular friction elements on the axle section driving means fitting the friction elements and'having a recess with cam faces therein presented toward the friction elements, and spring-controllcd rolls in the recess adapted t be wedgu b veen the driving means at. t the friction element-s by the. relative rotation of the driving means and the friction elements. and a spacing block between the rolls having a centering plate friction-ally held between the friction elements.

6. A driving mechanism including a divided axle, annular friction elements on the axle sections, driving means fitting the friction elements and having a rece s with earn faces therein presented toward the friction elements, springcontrolled wedges in the recess adapted to he gripped between the cam faces of the driving means and the friction elements by the relative rotation of the driving means and friction elements, and

a spacing block between the wedges having a centering plate frictionally held between the friction elements.

7. A dri ing mechanism including a divided axle, disks on the axle sections, a driving drum fitting around the disks and having a recess with cam faces therein presented toward the disks. and rolls in the recess adapted to be alternately wedged and released between the cam faces and the respective disks by the relative rotation of the drum and the disks, whereby the disks are adapted to be clamped b the drum in either direction, both disks to we relea ed and then one or both reel-amped against the drain when both di ks overrun. and one disk to be released when it overruns and both di ks to he released when they overrun and the one disk or both disks to be rcclamped when overtaken by the drum.

8. A drivin" mechanism including a divided axle: d s. on the axle sections, a driving drum fitting around the disks and having a recess with cam faces therein presented toward the disks, and wedges in the recess adapted to be alternately gripped and rel ased between the cam faces and the re- -pective disks by the relative rotation of the drum and the disks, whereby the disks are adapted to be clamped by the drum in either direction, hoth disks to be released and then one or both reclarnped against the drain when both disks overrun, and one disk to be released when it overrun and both disks to he released when they overrun and the one disk or both disks t be rcclamped when overtaken by the drain.

9. A driving mechanism including a divided axle, dis is on the axle sections, driving means fitting around thedisks and ht1V-' ing a recess with cam faces therein presented toward the disks, rolls in each end of the recess adapted to be alternately wedged and released between the cam faces and the respective disks by the relative rotation of the driving means and the disks, whereby the disks are adapted to be clamped by the driving means in either direction, both disks to be released and then one or both reclamped against the driving means when both disks overrun, and one disk to be released when it overruns and both disks to be released when they overrun and the one disk or both disks to be reclamped when overtaken by the driving means.

10. A driving mechanism including a divided axle, disks on the axle s tions, driving means fitting around the disks and hav ing a recess with cam faces therein presented toward the disks, wedges in each end of the recc-s adapted to be alternately gripped and released between the cam faces and the respective disks by the relative-rotation of the driving means and the disks, whereby the disks are adapted to be clamped by the driving means in either direction, both disks to be released and then one or both reclamped against the driving means when both disks overrun, and one disk to be released when it overruns and both disks to be released when they overrun and the one disk or both disks to be reclainped when overtaken by the driving means.

11. A driving mechanism including a db vided axle, annular friction elements on the axle sections, driving means fitting the friction elements and having a recess with cam faces therein presented toward the friction elements, and rolls in :he recess adapted to be alternately wedged and released between the cam faces and the respective friction elements by the relative rotation of the driving means and said elements, whereby the ole nents are adapted to be clamped by the driving means in. either direction, both ele ments to be released and then one or both reclamped against the driving means when both elements overrun, and one element to be released when it overruns and both to be released when they overrun and the one element otboth elements to be reclamped overtaken by the driving means.

when vented from engaging its cam face.

be held by the wedged roll of one disk when.

the other disk overruns, whereby the rear- 12. A driving mechanism including a di- 3 vided axle, annular. i'riction elements on the axle sections, dri 'ing means fitting the friction elements and having a recess with cam faces therein presented toward the friction elements, and wedges 1n the recess adapted to be alternately gripped and released between the cam faces and therespective fricion elements by the relative rotaiionof the the elements are adapted to he clamped by i the driving means in either direction, both reel-amped against the driving means when ward roll of the overrnnning disk is pre- 16. A driving mechanism including a divided axle, disks on the axle sections, driving means fitting around the disks and having a recess with cam faces therein presented to the disks, and wedges in each end of the 'recess adapted to be alternately gripped and released between the cam faces and the respective disks by the relative rotauon of the driving means in either direcdrivmg means and said elements, whereby tion, and a spacing block between the wedges adapted to be held by the gripped wedgeof I one disk when the other disk overruns, elements to be released and then one or both E be released when it overruns and both to be released when they overrun and the one element or both elements to he reclamped when overtaken by the driving means.

13. A driving mechanism including a divided axle, disks on the axle sections, driving means fitting around the disks and liavwhereby the rearward wedge of the overrunning disk is prevented from engaging its both elements overrun, and one element to;

cam face.

17. A driving mechanism including a. divided axle, annular friction elements on the axle sections, driving means fitting the friction elements and having a recess with cam faces therein presented to the friction ele.

.ments, and rolls in each end of the recess adapted to be,alternately wedged and re- Z leased between the cam faces and the respecthe friction elements by the relative rotaand released between the cam faces and the respective disks by the relative rotation of the driving means in either direction, and a spacing block between the rolls having a centering plate frictionally pressed between the disks and adaptedto be held by the wedged roll of one disk when the other disk overruns, whereby the rearward roll of the overrunning disk is prevented from engaging its cam face.

14. A driving mechanism including a divided axle, disks on the axle sections, driving means fitting around the disks and hav- 5 ing a recess with cam facts therein presented to the disks, and wedges in each end of the recess adapted to be alternately gri pod and released between the cam faces an the respective disks by the relative roion. and a spacing block between the wedges having a. centering plate frictionally pressed iation of the driving means in either direcbetween the disks and adapted to be held bv the gripped wedge of one disk when th ei tion of the driving means in either direction,

and a spacing-block between the rolls ada t-.'

ed to be held by the wedged roll of one e ement when the other element overruns, whereby the rearward roll of the overrunning disk is prevented from engaging its cam face.

18. A driving mechanism including a divided axle, annular friction elements on the axle sections, driving means fitting the friction elements and having a recess with cam faces therein'presented to the friction elements, and wedges in each end of the recess adapted to be alternately gripped and released between the cam faces and the respective friction elements by the relative rotation of the driving means in either direction, and a spacing block between the wedges adapted to be held by the gripped wedge of 19. A driving mechanism including an when the other is wedged.

axle, a disk on the axle, driving means fittin around the disk and having a recess wit. cam faces -therein presented to the disk, and a roll in each end of the recess adapted to be alternatel wedged-and released between the cam aces and the disk by the relative rotation of the drivin means in' either direction, and a spacing block be- 3 free tween the rolls adapted 'to hold one -20. A driving mechanism including an axle, a disk on the axle, driving means fillting around the dlSk and having a rec With cam faces therein presented to the I 5 disk, and-a wedge in each end of the recess 1 adapted to be alternately gripped and released betweeh the cam faces and the disk by the relative rotation of the driving means in either direction, and a spacing block between go-the wedges adapted to hold one free when the other is gripped. v

r 21. A driving mechanism including an axle, a friction element o'n'the axle, driving means fitting-the friction element and having 3 a recess with cam faces therein presented to the friction element, an a roll in each end of the recess adapted *4 be alternately wedged i and released between the cam faces and the friction element by the relative rotation of the driving means in either direction, and a spacing block between the rolls adapted to hold one free when the other is Wedge 22'. A driving mechanism including an axle, a friction element on the axle, driving 2 means fitting the friction element and haring a recess with cain faces therein presented g to the friction element, and a wedge in each end of the recess adapted to be alternately gripped and released between thecani faces 1 and the friction element by the relative rota- 5 tion of the driving means in either direction,

and a spacing block between the Wedges adapted to hold one free when the other is gripped. 3 CHARLES H. JOHNSON. l Witnesses:

' W'M. R. RHoAns,

-RUTH A. MILLER. 

